Deadly Questions (Hardy Brothers Security Book 8) (20 page)

“Perhaps age has addled him,” Lily said. “It doesn’t matter. When he shows up to the meet site, Keith is going to shoot him in the back. He’s not going to be a concern for me.”

Sophie’s heart rolled painfully. “You’re just horrible.”

“I’m a realist,” Lily countered. “I live in the real world. You obviously don’t. Don’t worry, you’ll be a realist soon enough.”

Sophie picked that moment to react. She knew it was fruitless. She knew she’d live to pay for her actions, but she didn’t care. She couldn’t listen to Lily one second longer. She hurled her phone, the one that had been hidden in her hand for the past hour, at Lily’s head.

Lily was so surprised she ducked, and the phone slammed against the window behind her. Sophie was on her feet, and she and Lily were grappling for the gun at the same time.

“I’m going to kill you,” Sophie growled.

“WHAT
was that?”

The two men leaning against the car took a step toward the room. Jake grabbed one of them from behind, pressing his arm against his windpipe so he couldn’t make a sound. James had the other a moment later, mimicking the move. The two men were forced to the ground, and Jake and James refused to lessen the pressure until they passed out.

Peter handed them zip ties. “Hogtie them. My men in the office will collect them shortly.”

James and Jake did as they were told. James planned on arguing about their ultimate placement, but not until Sophie was safe. For now, they were a team.

Peter inclined his head toward the door. “Grady, if you will.”

Grady looked at him, confused.

“I’m a bit too old to be kicking in doors,” Peter said. “And I believe you have some aggression to work out.”

Grady couldn’t argue with that. He lifted his leg and slammed it against the weak wood. Sophie was close. He would have her in his arms in seconds. That was all he cared about.

“YOU
are a sick piece of work,” Sophie said, yanking Lily’s hair as hard as she could. “You are just disgusting. What happened to you as a child was horrible, but instead of learning from it, you’ve decided to prey on others. You make me want to throw up.”

Lily yowled as she tried to pry Sophie’s fingers from her hair. “Let me go, you bitch!”

“No,” Sophie said, trying to wrestle the gun from Lily’s hand. Thankfully, the safety was set. Lily had tried to pull the trigger three times. Sophie had moved around so much, even biting the woman’s wrist at a point, that Lily couldn’t disengage the safety. “I hate you!”

“I hate you right back!”

“I hate you worse,” Sophie said, ramming her forehead into Lily’s and knocking her off balance.

Lily reared back, letting go of the gun and toppling over to the ground. Sophie disengaged the safety and raised the gun, pointing it at Lily’s head. “You’re a blight on this world.”

The hotel door exploded, causing Sophie to jump back as Grady raced through the opening. She cried out when she saw him. “Grady?”

Grady made a move toward her, but Lily was already shifting. She rolled to her side, pulling a knife from a sheath on her ankle – the one she had conveniently kept hidden from Sophie during her story – and climbed to her feet.

Lily moved quickly. She had the knife at Grady’s neck within the blink of an eye. “I’ll kill him.”

“No, you won’t,” Sophie said, her hands level as she regarded Lily. “There’s nowhere for you to go. He didn’t come here alone. Your brothers are probably already dead. You only have one option.”

“And what’s that?” Lily sneered.

“Surrender.”

“Not without my money,” Lily said. “I’ve earned it.”

“You haven’t earned shit,” Sophie said. “You sell people. You sell women.”

“It’s a business.”

“You made arrangements to sell me.”

“What?” Grady’s face was flushed with rage.

“She’s worth a lot of money to me, Mr. Hardy,” Lily said. “I’m willing to let her go as long as I get her ransom and a free ride out of town.”

“No,” Sophie said. “You’re not going anywhere. You’re too dangerous.”

“You have a choice, Sophie,” Lily said. “Either you let me go, or I kill him. Which do you prefer?”

Sophie snorted, her eyes catching movement in the open archway. She lowered her gun. “You win.”

“I always win,” Lily said.

“I wouldn’t say always,” Peter said, stepping into the room.

Lily made a move to turn, but Peter was already firing his gun before she could register what was happening. When Lily’s body hit the floor, blood running from the hole between her eyes, there was no doubt she was dead.

Grady took the two steps to Sophie, only pausing long enough to step over Lily’s prone body before he pulled her to him.

“It was her all along,” Sophie choked out.

“I know,” Grady said. “We figured it out this afternoon.”

“I … .”

Grady shushed Sophie with a kiss, cupping the back of her head and holding her still. “I love you, Sophie. I love you more than anything.”

Sophie’s eyes widened, the warm brown orbs welling with tears. “I love you, too.”

“What took you so long to get here?”

Mandy threw her arms around James’ neck, letting him lift her off the ground as he returned the embrace.

“The cops had some questions,” Peter said grimly. “I still don’t know how they knew to show up there.”

“I was worried,” Mandy said. “It seemed like you were gone forever.”

James kissed her. “It felt longer for me.”

“It felt longer for those of us having to listen to him bitch about getting back to you,” Sophie said, poking James in the stomach. “You’re such a girl sometimes.”

Mandy let go of her husband and wrapped Sophie in an intense hug. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Sophie said. “I wasn’t mistreated. I had to listen to a crazy woman go on and on, but I’m used to that ever since I’ve started spending time with you and Ally.”

Grady snorted.

“How are you?” Mandy asked pointedly.

Grady pursed his lips. “In love.”

Mandy smiled widely. “It’s about time.”

Grady slung an arm over Sophie’s shoulders, pressing his lips to her temple. “It is.”

“What happened to Lily?” Emma asked, leaning her head against Finn’s shoulder. “Is she … ?”

“She’s dead,” James said, casting a quick look in Peter’s direction.

“Is anyone in trouble because she’s dead?” Mandy asked.

“No,” James said. “We told the cops what happened. She had a knife to Grady’s throat. The cops took Peter’s gun, but they say it’s justifiable.”

“What about the people with her?” Ally asked from her spot on Jake’s lap.

“They were taken into custody,” James said, pulling Mandy back to him. He wanted her close.

“Unfortunately,” Peter said. “I had plans for them.”

“They’re going to prison,” Sophie said. “They’re getting what they deserve, and so is their father.”

“Their father?” Mandy asked.

“Sit down,” Sophie said. “It’s a long and horrible story, and I only want to tell it one more time.”

When Sophie was done, Mandy shuddered. “I hate to say it, but I feel sorry for Lily.”

“I did, too,” Sophie said. “This was before she told me she was going to sell me into sexual slavery. Oh, and she had the same plans for Emma.”

“Ugh,” Mandy said. “Well, now I’m glad she’s dead.”

James ran his hand down the back of his wife’s head. “We’re all glad she’s dead.”

“Still, what about this Harland guy?”

“The police were picking him up as soon as they were done with us,” Grady said. “He won’t live to see freedom again.”

“That’s something at least,” Mandy said. “It’s too bad we don’t know who Lily’s mother was. She’s just as guilty in all of this.”

“We can only hope that karma caught up with her,” Sophie agreed.

“I still don’t understand how the cops knew to show up there,” Peter groused, pouring himself a drink from the whiskey decanter on the bar. “Someone had to tell them what was going on.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter,” Mandy said, averting her gaze. “Everyone is safe.”

James sent Mandy a searching look, one that wasn’t lost on Peter.

“Did someone here call the police?” Peter asked pointedly.

Mandy shifted uncomfortably. “Um … well … fine. I called them.”

“You did?” James asked.

“I just didn’t think Sophie would want Peter to kill someone on her behalf,” Mandy said. “I also didn’t want you guys put into a position where you would have to lie to cover up a murder. Sue me.”

James pursed his lips. “You are … .”

“Delightful,” Peter supplied. “She’s delightful, and loyal. She did the best thing for all of us.”

Mandy narrowed her eyes. “Wait, so you’re not upset?”

“I’m not happy,” Peter said. “I had vengeance on my mind. I got the biggest piece of that vengeance sated this afternoon. The fact that you stopped me from hurting your family and … perhaps … saved me in the process, well, I can’t be angry about that.”

“Are you sure? When I do things James doesn’t like he throws things,” Mandy said. “You can throw things if you want.”

Peter’s eyes flashed with amusement. “I’ll consider it for later.”

“No offense, and this is a great house,” Emma said. “But I really just want to go home now. I need to think on all of this. It’s a lot to take in.”

Finn kept his arm around her waist. “I agree. Let’s go home, sweetheart.”

“Me, too,” Ally said, jumping to her feet. “I finally got my boyfriend back, and I’m going to celebrate with a long bath and a bottle of wine.”

“A bath?” Jake asked.

“Don’t worry, you’re invited,” Ally teased.

James pointed a finger. “No, you’re not. Don’t say things like that in front of your brothers, Ally.”

“Oh, get over it,” Ally chided. “We’re going to have lots and lots of sex, just like I know you are. I believe I heard a rumor that you were playing shark hunter tonight.”

James made a face. He rested his forehead against Mandy’s. “You have a huge mouth.”

“I know.”

“Come on, baby,” James said, tugging on her hand. “Let’s go home and enjoy the hot tub. I think you’ve earned it.”

“I always earn it.”

“Not always,” James said. “Tonight, though? Yeah.”

“Can we have Middle Eastern food?”

James sighed. “Yes.”

“Can we have wine in the hot tub?”

“Yes.”

“Can we get put the iPad on a chair and play
Jaws
on it while we’re out there?”

James made an exasperated sound in the back of his throat. “Move your ass, wife. I’m done negotiating. You get whatever you want tonight.”

“We should go, too,” Sophie said, lacing her fingers with Grady’s. “We have a hot tub, too, and I’m dying to relax in it.”

“Me, too,” Grady agreed.

“Wait just a second,” Peter said.

“What?” Sophie asked, furrowing her brow.

“I thought an escape might be in order tonight,” Peter said. “You’ve been through an ordeal.” He handed Sophie an envelope. “I made a call while the cops were questioning us. I reserved a suite at the Townsend for the weekend.”

Sophie’s eyes brightened. “For us?”

“I figured room service and rest were in order,” Peter said, fixing his eyes on Grady. “For both of you.”

“Thank you,” Grady said.

“No thanks are necessary,” Peter said. “You love my ... daughter. That’s all the thanks necessary.”

Sophie gave Peter an enthusiastic hug. “This is so nice.”

Peter waited until they were close to the door before he gave them one more gift. “Oh, and I believe the hot tub, which is supposedly shaped like a champagne glass, has rose-colored bubbles and a delightful floral scent. It’s rumored to be quite the sight.”

Sophie paused. “Really?”

“Only the best for my daughter,” Peter said. “Always.”

“Thank you.”

“Have a good time,” Peter said. “And never, ever, tell me the details. Have a good weekend. I’ll talk to you next week.”

“I love you, Peter.”

“I love you, too, my dear.”

Sophie shifted her gaze to Grady. “I love you both.”

Grady kissed her. “I love you.”

James had been right. Once he said the words, they were easier to say the second time. He knew he’d never stop staying them now.

The Hardy family is about to get bigger. The question is: Who is expecting a bundle of joy?

After a minor misunderstanding – which leads to a major one – Emma Pritchard is facing an uncertain future. She’s not sure she’s ready to be a mother, and she’s even less sure that Finn Hardy is prepared to be a father.

Finn finds his world thrown into tumult. He loves Emma more than anything, but a new life is closing in on him – and he’s terrified.

When Emma’s errant mother returns to town professing pure motives – but nefarious deeds – the Hardys find themselves in the middle of another mystery.

Emma desperately wants a family, and that includes a grandmother for her unborn child. She also needs to face a harsh reality: Her mother isn’t the woman she wants to believe in.

The Hardys are excited to welcome a new addition to their family, but they have to uncover Emma’s mother’s true motivations before they can move forward.

When things come to a head, Emma’s life hangs in the balance – and she’s the one who stands to lose the most.

Can the Hardys save Emma and smooth Finn’s frayed nerves, or will this couple crumble under the pressure?

Deadly Addition hits shelves June 2, 2015. Purchase it
here.